Football: CU Buffs' Richardson, USC's Lee inspire each other

Star receivers have been friends since grade school

CU receiver Paul Richardson hopes to return to form after missing last season with a torn ACL.
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CLIFF GRASSMICK
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Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson isn't the kind of guy who needs a kick in the pants when it comes to anything football related. But he's human. He has moments when there are questions and even doubts.

Richardson is fortunate to have plenty of trusted friends, family members and coaches to turn to in those moments and one of them just happens to be where Richardson would like to be a year from now.

Southern Cal junior Marqise Lee is the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's best wide receiver in 2012 when he was a unanimous All-America selection. He owns 22 USC receiving records and five in the Pac-12 Conference.

Richardson and Lee have known each other since they were in grade school competing on opposing basketball teams. They both transferred to the same high school to play football and became good friends.

"He thinks he's good," Lee said of Richardson on the basketball court.

Richardson and Lee work out together in Los Angeles whenever Richardson is home from school in Boulder. They got together last weekend following Pac-12 media day to run some routes and talk about the season ahead.

Richardson called Lee his best friend during an interview at media day.

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"He won the Biletnikoff this year," Richardson said. "I can't tell him how proud I am of him. For him to call me on a Friday morning and say, 'Hey, P-Rich, I need help with this. Can you come put me through some drills?' That shows a lot of respect that he has for me.

"He's not looking at, 'Hey, my boy just came off ACL surgery, or his team wasn't very successful last year.' He has enough respect for me and my game and what I bring to the table and that takes a lot. We're out there critiquing each other's game and just getting better."

Both might be carrying the weight of their programs on their shoulders entering the 2013 season.

Lee is expected to duplicate the season he had last year and maybe improve on it, despite the fact he has no idea who will be throwing him the football on Saturdays and if that quarterback will be as capable as former USC starter Matt Barkley.

Richardson was sorely missed by the Buffs last year. The CU offense had no speed without him on the field and was relatively easy to defend. Richardson's return means CU fans can once again look forward to the possibility that he could take it 80 or 90 yards in a game or maybe several times in a game.

Richardson hasn't quelled those expectations at all. He has only added to them in interviews since spring ball with honest comments about how hungry he is to get back on the field and show what he can do.

Richardson and CU fans believe he is capable of a huge season if he can stay healthy for all 12 regular season games. Consider that in one game against Cal during his sophomore season, Richardson caught 11 passes for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns.

"He will have an amazing year," Lee said. "Unfortunately he didn't get to show his skills last year because of the injury but I know what he's capable of and I know in the receiver talk he's going to be right there like he is right now."

Richardson said both he and Lee are intensely competitive, but they don't necessarily have a rivalry with each other, though there were times in high school when Lee was lined up as a defensive back across from Richardson in practice. They are inspired by each other.

"We used to go at each other, but I think our camaraderie or the competition we've created through each other, we don't have any like secret hatred or anything toward each other," Richardson said. "It's all positive."

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